After my speech yesterday, I still had people coming up to me and telling me how wonderful my Korean is. But I am not afflicted with false modesty, and if I were honest with myself, I would not be able to say that I speak Korean well. And I really couldn't understand why all of these people were making such a huge deal out of my poor Korean skills.
But I had a conversation with my host sister today, that really helped clear up the mystery. She told me that her teachers, her friends, her classmates....all day today, everyone she talked with about the new English teacher, they all commented on how I spoke Korean. So I asked Songi why they all were making such a big deal of it. And she said that they do not expect foreigners to try to learn about their culture. It is normal for native English teachers to address the school in English, and not even try to speak the language of their host country. So the fact that I put in the effort, the fact that I was obviously trying to address them in their own language, really meant alot to them.
At first, our conversation really made me sad. Of course I should try to speak Korean when I'm in Korea, I thought. Isn't it only natural to want to try to understand the people that you are living with? Why doesn't everyone think like that? But then I realized that I, too, can be insensitive, just as insensitive or even more so than all of those multitudes of native English teachers that Songi talked about today. The only difference is that my insensitivity takes a different form than language.
All too often, I let myself get annoyed by someone's actions, without stopping to think about what could have caused them. How many times does someone snap at us and we snap right back, not even stopping to think about the fact that perhaps they are stressed...maybe someone in their family is very sick....maybe they just lost their job....maybe their husband just walked out on them.
There are any number of reasons why someone would act in a way contrary to their normal character. But far too often, we fail to look beyond the surface. We do not try to understand them, but rather impose our views and judgements on their situations. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. God's word says to "clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Let's make an effort to wear His clothing today.
But I had a conversation with my host sister today, that really helped clear up the mystery. She told me that her teachers, her friends, her classmates....all day today, everyone she talked with about the new English teacher, they all commented on how I spoke Korean. So I asked Songi why they all were making such a big deal of it. And she said that they do not expect foreigners to try to learn about their culture. It is normal for native English teachers to address the school in English, and not even try to speak the language of their host country. So the fact that I put in the effort, the fact that I was obviously trying to address them in their own language, really meant alot to them.
At first, our conversation really made me sad. Of course I should try to speak Korean when I'm in Korea, I thought. Isn't it only natural to want to try to understand the people that you are living with? Why doesn't everyone think like that? But then I realized that I, too, can be insensitive, just as insensitive or even more so than all of those multitudes of native English teachers that Songi talked about today. The only difference is that my insensitivity takes a different form than language.
All too often, I let myself get annoyed by someone's actions, without stopping to think about what could have caused them. How many times does someone snap at us and we snap right back, not even stopping to think about the fact that perhaps they are stressed...maybe someone in their family is very sick....maybe they just lost their job....maybe their husband just walked out on them.
There are any number of reasons why someone would act in a way contrary to their normal character. But far too often, we fail to look beyond the surface. We do not try to understand them, but rather impose our views and judgements on their situations. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. God's word says to "clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Let's make an effort to wear His clothing today.
Colossians 3:12-15
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 
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